Madrid -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In Spain 's deep economic crisis , the lucky ones could hardly believe their good fortune on Saturday -- holding a $ 26 share of a winning lottery ticket pays out a return of $ 528,000 .

The country 's annual Christmas lottery pays out this year $ 2.2 billion to thousands of winners , but those holding the winning number for the top prize -- 76058 -- for El Gordo , or `` the fat one , '' reaped the biggest rewards , according to Spain 's state-run lottery .

The first prize paid $ 950 million overall , or 43 percent of the total prizes , and most of `` El Gordo '' was won by some residents of the historic university town of Alcala de Henares , just east of Madrid , the lottery administration said .

There , in a working class neighborhood with public housing and many immigrants , Spanish media reported that champagne bottles were popping at the lottery office that sold many of the winning tickets .

Spaniards typically buy a share of a ticket , among friends or family , at the local bar or workplace , so the joy was spread around .

Is praying for a lottery win frowned upon ? Depends on who you ask

A man in Alcala de Henares bought 10 shares -- an amount known as a `` full ticket , '' and now worth $ 5.2 million -- and had given them away other family members . One recipient , the father of a young child , said he would try to buy a decent home and a car .

Another winner was a cafe owner who said he 'd still probably open for business on Monday , after going to collect his earnings at the bank , Spanish media reported .

The second biggest prize mostly went to residents in the town of Aranda de Duero , north of Madrid . Numerous towns across the nation also got a piece of the action , and some portions of the top El Gordo prize were sold in 15 Spanish provinces .

But Spain 's recession and the unemployment rate that tops 25 % clearly had an impact on the lottery intake this year .

Spaniards spent 8 % less on lottery tickets this year than last , with the average Spaniard laying out only $ 68 for lottery ticket shares , down from $ 73 last year , the lottery administration said .

The biggest winner is the state , which keeps $ 976 million , or 30 % of the entire lottery intake , which reached $ 3.2 billion this year . The remaining 70 % was distributed for prizes .

This was the last year that Christmas lottery winnings over $ 3,300 will be tax free . Next year , anyone winning $ 3,300 or more will see their good fortune taxed at 20 percent , making the cash-strapped Spanish government even a bigger winner .

Clock ticks on unclaimed Â # 64 million lottery ticket

@highlight

Spain 's annual Christmas lottery paid our $ 2.2 billion to thousands of winners

@highlight

The biggest prize -- El Gordo -- was won by residents in Alcala de Henares

@highlight

The lottery intake was $ 3.2 billion , but the government keeps 30 %

@highlight

Spaniards spent less on lottery tickets this year